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Hiddink: Hazard is back and Costa latest ahead of Chelsea trip to Arsenal

22nd January, 2016, 1:27 PM

By London correspondent Tony Hughes

Chelsea have been given a double fitness boost ahead of Sunday’s Premier League showdown against Arsenal.

Manager Guus Hiddink has confirmed that Eden Hazard is back and Diego Costa is also available for the clash at Emirates Stadium.

Hazard returned to full training with the first-team squad on Wednesday for the first time since injuring his groin against Crystal Palace on 3 January.

Speaking about Hazard at his media conference on Friday afternoon, Hiddink said. “He’s available. He was in the team, well prepared until two days ago by the physios and then he started participating in the team.

“In the last two days he was in full training. We have to be careful as he’s fallen into injuries recently. I’m not sure whether he can play a full 90 minutes.”

Costa, who had been rated a serious doubt for Sunday’s match after suffering a shin injury Chelsea’s 3-3 Premier League thriller with Everton last weekend, is also available for selection.

Fitness race: Costa is set to overcome a shin injury to play at Arsenal

Costa bruised his tibia and has not trained much this week but Hiddink says the key striker is in contention to play.

Against Everton, the Spain international scored a goal and supplied an assist as Chelsea fought back from 2-0 down before limping off at the 80-minute mark with the score at 2-2.

He has scored five goals in five games under Hiddink and the Blues boss cannot afford to lose the striker to a lengthy spell on the sidelines.